Mop holder



April 17, 1 6 J. T. SHORT ETAL MOP HOLDER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 12, 1960 I Jamar/Elm April 17, 1962 J. T. SHORT ETAL MOP HOLDER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 12, 1960 INVENTORS I Joeldfiol z Jamesjllfmzzfi/ m ATTORNEYJ April 17, 1962 J. T. SHORT ETAL 2 MOP HOLDER Filed Feb. 12, 1960 s Sheets-Sheet a INVENTORS ATTORNEY6 I United States Patent Cilice 3,Z$,4d-t MG HGLDER 3 e T. hort and .lames M. Smith, West Faint, (3a., assigners to Callaway Mills Company, La Grange, Gm, a corporation of Georgia Filed Feb. 12, 19th, Ser. No. 8 276 6 Claims. (Cl. 15-14 7) The present invention relates to improvements in mops or dust tools. The invention is more particularly concerned with large dust mops which are used to clean the floors of institutions. factories and commercial establishments.

The mops or dust tools of the present invention include an elongated, rigid open f ame on which a textile jacket or cover is placed. A handle is provided with a novel clamp which permits the handleto be readily attached and detached from the rigid frame. The connection of the handle to the frame may provide for universal movement of the handle relative to the frame to permit manipulation of the tool into corners or other restricted areas.

One ofthe primary objects of the invention is to provide a handle and a textile jacket carrying frame which are quickly and easily attachable by mere manipulation of the handle.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved connection between the rigid frame of a dust tool and the handle thereof which permits universal movement of the handle relative to the frame in one condition of adjustment and restricts movement of the handle to one plane in another condition of adjustment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a connection between the handle and the rigid frame of a dust tool in which the connection is above the plane of the frame and does not interfere with the sweeping or dusting action of the tool.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will be better understood from the following description which has reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a complete dust tool embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of a portion of the rigid frame of the tool;

FIGURE3 is a top plan view of the clamp and portions of the handle and frame of the tool and illustrates in broken lines the permissible movement of the handle in one plane;

FIGURE 4 is a bottom plan View of the clamp of the tool and a portionof the handle;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 55 of FIGURE 3 and illustrating in broken lines the permissible movement of the handle in another plane; and

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken generally in the direction of the arrows along the line 66 of FIGURE 5.

The dust accumulating portion of the tool comprises a fabric jacket designated generally by the reference numeral 6. The jacket 6 is of flat tubular form and is closed at the end 7. The lower wall of the jacket is provided with a flap 8 which can be folded over and secured to the top wall by any suitable means such as a tie string 9. Fringe 10 may be sewn or otherwise secured to the lower wall of the jaolret 6. The upper wall of thejacket 6 is provided with a central opening 11 which may be reinforced by binding tape .12.

A rigid open frame is designated generally by the reference numeral 13. The frame 13 includes side portions 14 and 15 and end portions 16 and 17, all of which lie in a common plane. An inner frame is designated generally by the reference numeral 18 and is composed of side portions 19 and 2t} and end portions 21 and 2-2..

The side portions 19 and 2d are welded, brazed or other-i wise secured to the side portions 14 and .15. Theend portions 21 and 22 of the inner frame 18 slope upwardlyfrom the side portions 1.4 arid i5 and form humps 2r3 and 2d at their mid-portions. A longitudinally extend! ing shaft 2-5 is secured to the lower surfaces of the end members 2-1 and 22 and within the humps 23 and 24,

The shaft 25 is thus positioned above the plane of the frame 13. The end members 21 and 22 are round'in cross section, for a purpose hereinafter described;

, A clamp for attaching a handle 26 to the shaft 25 is" designated generally by the reference numeral 27. The

The lower clip member 28 also includes an inwardly.

extending lug or tongue 33. A middle clip member 34 is welded or other wise rigidly secured to the lower clip member 23. The outer end 35 of the middle clip member 34 is directed upwardly and outwardly to terminate in a pair of fingers se and 37 which are positioned above the deflected outer end 29 of the lower clip mernber 28. The middle clip member 34 also carries upstanding earsS-S and 39 through which pass a pivot pin 46. The lower clip member 28 and the middle clip mem: her 34 thus provide a rigid bifurcated clip member.

An upper clip member is designated generally by the reference numeral 45d. The upper clipgmember 4 .1 has downwardly extending ears 42 and 43 which are pivotally mounted on the pivot pin 45!. The outer endjof the upper clip member 41 extends abruptly downwardly at 34 and passes between the fingers 36 and 3-7 on the middle clip member 34 to be received in the elongatedrecess or cavity 32 in the lower clip member 28. The outer end of the upper clip member then is deflected away from the lower clip member 28 so as to diverge from the outer end 219 of the lower clip member 2%. A torsion spring .6 yieldingly urges the upper clip member 41 toward the position illustrated in FIGURE 5. It will be seen that the lower clip member 28, the fingers 36 and 37 on the middle clip member 34, and the upper clip member 41 cooperate to form a recess for reception of the shaft 25 on the frame 13. i I

i A rectangular bar 47 is secured within the lower end of the handle 26 by means of a rivet 4'8 and is reinforced by a ferrule'dd. A rivet 5d passes through the outer end of the bar 47 and through the lower clip mem-' ber 28 and the middle clip member 34. A spring friction washer 5th: is preferably positioned between theheadof the rivet iitlarrd the bar 47. A-keeper '51 is slideahle along the bar'47 and is provided with a notch 52 to receive the lug or tongue 3-3 on the lower clip member 28. A bow spring 53 is positioned within a recess in the bar 47 and may be secured therein by swaging of the metal of the bar 4-7. The bow spring 5% permits but frictionally resists movement of the keeper 51 between the position shown in the drawings and a position adjacent the end of the handle 26. n

In the use of the dust tool, a clean jacket 6 is placed on one of the frames 13. i This may be done at a laundry or by the'user of the tool. The'shaft 25' and the mid-portions of the round bars 21 and 22, including the humps 23 and 24, are exposed through the opening ill in the jacket. The diverging ends 29 and 45 of the lower clip member 28 and the upper clip member 34, respectively, are placed adjacent the shaft 25 by manipulating the handle 26. It is not necessary to initially position the clamp accurately with respect to the length of the shaft 25. The round corners 3t? and 3-1 of the lower clip member 28 will engage the round bars 21 and 22 adjacent the bumps 23 and 24 and provide a carmning Patented Apr. 17,

3 action which will serve to center the clamp along the shaft 25. Slight downward pressure on the handle 26 will then cause the clamp to snap into engagement with the shaft 25. The fingers 36 and 37 provide bearing supports for the shaft 25 and avoid any tendency for the shaft to pivot the upper clip member 41 against the action of the torsion spring 46. The fact that the upper clip member 41 rests in the cavity 32 in the lower clip member 23 eliminates any possibility of the clamp becoming detached from the shaft 25 by pulling on the handle 26. The frame 13 may be released from the clamp by merely depressing the inner end of the clip member 41 with the thumb. It is thus possible to remove the handle and clamping assembly from a frame carrying a soiled jacket without touching the soiled fabric. The handle may then be placed on a frame carrying a clean jacket.

The handle is free to pivot about the shaft 25 to or beyond the positions illustrated in broken lines in FIC- URE 5. The keeper 51 may be positioned as illustrated in the drawings and the handle is restrained from pivotal movement about the rivet 50. Under these circumstances, the tool may be pushed or pulled along a floor by means of the handle and the full length of the jacket 6 is effective. It is advisable in some circumstances to permit the handle to be pivoted to or even beyond the positions shown in broken lines in FZGURE 3. This pivotal movement is permitted when the keeper 51 is moved from the position shown in the drawings to a position adjacent the end of the handle 26. Under these circum stances, the handle is capable of substantially universal movement with respect to the frame 13.

The sloping of the round bars 21 and 22 on either side of the humps 23 and 24 appears to augment the camming action of the round corners 30 and 31 on the lower clip member 28 to center the clamp 27 relative to the shaft 25 during attachment of the handle to the frame. It will also be seen that the positioning of the shaft 25 within the humps 23 and 24- serves to position that shaft substantially above the common plane of the side portions 14 and and the end portions 16 and 17 of the frame 13. This positioning of the shaft serves to provide clearance above the floor for the outer ends 29 and 45 of the clamp so that there is no interference with freedom of movement of the handle relative to the frame 13. The frame 13 is substantially open and any solid objects which may become lodged beneath the dust tool will be retained within the interior of the frame 13 and will not adversely interfere with the action of the tool.

We have illustrated and described what we now consider to be the preferred embodiment of the invention. It will be understood that various alterations and modifications may be made Without departing from the broader scope of the invention which is defined by the claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. In a dust tool, a frame comprising side portions and end portions lying substantially in a common plane, a pair of longitudinally spaced, transversely extending round bars secured to the side portions of said frame, said round bars sloping upwardly from each side portion of said frame and forming humps intermediate their ends, a longitudinally extending shaft secured to the lower surfaces of said round bars within said humps, a clamp compris ing a bifurcated clip member having one leg provided with a deflected outer end having round corners, said bifurcated clip member including a pair of spaced, parallel fingers extending outwardly in spaced relationship to said one leg, a second clip member pivotally secured to said bifurcated clip member about an axis spaced inwardly from the outer end of the bifurcated clip member, said second clip member having an outer end which extends between said parallel fingers toward said one leg and then is deflected away from said one leg so as to diverge from said outer end thereof, yieldable means urging the outer end of said second clip member toward said one leg, said bifurcated clip member and said second clip member cooperating to provide a recess for reception of said shaft for oscillatory movement relative to said clamp, the round corners of said one leg engaging said transversely extending round bars to center said clamp between said bars during attachment of said frame to said clamp and the diverging, outer ends of said one leg and said second clip member facilitating insertion of said shaft into said recess, and a handle pivotally secured to said bifurcated clip member about an axis perpendicular to the plane of said shaft.

2. In a dust tool, a frame comprising side portions and end portions lying substantially in a common plane, a pair of longitudinally spaced, transversely extending bars secured to the side portions of said frame, said bars sloping upwardly from each side portion of said frame and forming humps intermediate their ends, a shaft secured to the lower surfaces of said bars within said humps and positioned above said common plane, a clamp comprising a bifurcated clip member having one leg provided with a deflected outer end having round corners, said bifurcated clip member including a pair of spaced, parallel fingers extending outwardly in spaced relationship to said one leg, 21 second clip member pivotally secured to said bifurcated clip member about an axis spaced inwardly from the outer end of the bifurcated clip member, said second clip member having an outer end which extends between said parallel fingers toward said one leg and then is dellected away from said one leg so as to diverge from said outer end thereof, yieldable means urging the outer end of said second clip member toward said one leg, said bifurcated clip member and said second clip member cooperating to provide a recess for reception of said shaft for oscillatory movement relative to said clamp, the round corners of said one leg engaging said transversely extending and upwardly sloping bars to center said clamp between said bars during attachment of said frame to said clamp, the diverging, outer ends of said one leg and said second clip member facilitating insertion of said shaft into said recess, and a handle pivotally secured to said bifurcated clip member about an axis perpendicular to the plane of said shaft.

3. In a dust tool, a frame comprising side portions and end portions lying substantially in a common plane, a pair of longitudinally spaced, transversely extending round bars secured to the side portions of said frame, said round bars sloping upwardly from each side portion of said frame and forming humps intermediate their ends, a longitudinally extending shaft secured to the lower surfaces of said round bars within said humps, a clamp comprising a bifurcated clip member having one leg provided with a deflected outer end having round corners, said bifurcated clip member including a pair of spaced, parallel fingers extending outwardly in spaced relationship to said one leg, a second clip member pivotally secured to said bifurcated clip member about an axis spaced inwardly from the outer end of the b furcated clip member, said second clip member having an outer end which extends between said parallel fingers toward said one leg and then is deflected away from said one leg so as to diverge from said outer end thereof, yieldable means urging the outer end of said second clip member toward said one leg, said bifurcated clip member and said second clip member cooperating to provide a recess for reception of said shaft for oscillatory movement relative to said clamp, the round corners of said one leg engaging said transversely extending round bars to center said clamp between said bars during attachment of said frame to said clamp and the diverging outer ends of said one leg and said second clip member facilitating insertion of said shaft into said recess, a handle pivotally secured to said bifurcated clip member about an axis perpendicular to the plane of said shaft, a lug on said bifurcated clip member extending generally in the direction of said handle, and a retainer slideable along said handle to engage said lug to prevent pivotal movement of said clamp relative to said handle.

4. In a dust tool, a rigd frame comprising side portions and end portions lying substantially in a common plane, a pair of longitudinally spaced, transversely e2- tending round bars secured to the side portions of said frame, said round bars sloping upwardly from each side portion of said frame and forming humps intermediate their ends so as to provide a substantially unobstructed frame interior, and a longitudinally extending shaft se-- cured to the lower surfaces of said round bars within said humps and positioned above said common plane.

5. In a dust tool, a frame comprising side portions and end portions lying substantially in a common plane, a pair of longitudinally spaced, transversely extending round bars secured to the side portions of said frame, said round bars sloping upwardly from each side portion of said frame and forming humps intermediate their ends, a longitudinally extending shaft secured to the lower surfaces of said round bars within said humps, a clamp comprising a first, outer clip member having a deflected outer end with round corners, a middle clip member secured to on surface of said first outer clip member and having laterally spaced, outwardly projecting fingers spaced therefrom, a second, outer clip member pivotally secured to said middle clip member, the outer end of said second, outer clip member extending between said laterally spaced fingers toward said first, outer clip member and then deflecting away from said first, outer clip member so as to diverge from said outer end thereof, said fingers and said first, outer clip member cooperating to provide a recess for reception of said shaft, yieldable means biasing the diverging outer ends of said first, outer and second, outer clip members toward each other, and a handle member pivotally secured to said clamp.

6. In a dust tool, a frame comprising side portions and end portions lying substantially in a common plane, a pair of longitudinally spaced, transversely extending bars secured to the side portions of said frame, a 1ongitudinally extending shaft secured to the mid-portions of said bars, a clamp comprising a rigid, bifurcated clip member having one leg provided with a deflected outer end, said bifurcated clip member including a pair of spaced, parallel fingers extending outwardly in spaced relationship to said one leg, said fingers and said one leg cooperating to provide a recess for reception of said shaft for oscillatory movement relative to said clamp, a second clip member pivotally secured to said bifurcated clip memher about an axis spaced inwardly from the outer end of the bifurcated clip member, said second clip member having an outer end which extends between said parallel fingers toward said one leg to close said recess and then is deflected away from said one leg so as to diverge from said outer end thereof, yieldable means urging the outer end of said second clip member toward said one leg, the diverging, outer ends of said one leg and said second clip member facilitat ng insertion of said shaft into said recess, and a handle pivotally secured to said bifurcated clip member about an axis perpendicular to the plane of said shaft.

2,655,413 2,755,495 Park July 24, 1956 2,861,287 Scalf Nov. 25, 1958 

